EU Special Representative for Central Asia paid a visit to Kazakhstan
During her visit, the EU Special Representative met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexey Volkov and other high-level Kazakhstani officials, representatives of civil society and participated in the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan International Oil and Gas Conference in Almaty, accroding to the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan.
Regional security and stability, human rights, democracy and the rule of law, economic cooperation, energy, water, and environmental sustainability were among the issues discussed in the wider framework of the EU-CA Strategy.
The EU and Kazakhstan are currently negotiating an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which will provide a solid foundation for further engagement on a mutually beneficial basis while ensuring respect for common values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Both sides agreed on the big potential for future EU-Kazakhstan relations and pledged to work towards enhancing cooperation.
The EU Special Representative confirmed the determination of the EU to maintain regular political dialogue with Central Asian countries. In this regard, the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for November 2012, will provide a good opportunity to exchange views on regional cooperation and common challenges. The EU and Central Asian partners share the common goal of promoting a secure and stable Afghanistan and a prosperous region as a whole.
The EU Special Representative welcomed the opportunity for this first exchange of views and said that she was looking forward to close collaboration with Kazakhstan.